Extension-shelf for writing-tables.



J. F. BEBB.

EXTENSION SHELF FOR WRITING TABLES.

APPLICATION-FILED our. 1a, 1909.

' 974,340. Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

Ar" y W W a A? UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 1

JOHN F. BEIBB, OF NEVADA, IOWA.

EXTENSION-SHELF FOR WRITING-TABLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 18, 1909.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910. Serial No. 523,128.

vada, in the county of Story and State of Iowa, have invented a certainnew and useful Extension-Shelf for Writing-Tables, of which thefollowing is a s ccification.

My invention is especia ly adapted for use in connection with writingtables of the kind used in hotels and public places such as areordinarily used by the traveling public who must. frequently have readyaccess to suit cases, grips and the like when using the writing desk.

The object of my invention is to provide an extension shelf of simple,durable and inexpensive construction that, when in its folded position,will not project beyond the side of the table nor will it restrict thespace under the table for the users legs, and also to provide anextension shelf that may be readily and easily moved to extendedposition, and when in said position will support a suit case or gri inposition where the contents thereof wi 1 be readily accessible to aperson seated at the desk, and also to provide a shelf of this kind thatwill be normally retained in its folded position without the use oflatches or fastening devices.

My invention consists in certain details, in the construction,arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, wherebythe objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully setforth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a desk havingtwo of my improved extension shelves applied thereto, one being infolded position and the other being in an extended position, and Fig. 2shows a vertical, central, longitudinal, sectional view of a tableprovided with two of my improved shelves, one being shown extended andthe other folded.

Referrin to the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral10 to indicate a table top of the kind ordinarily used in writing tablesand provided with a transverse upright partition 11 at its centralportion to divide the table into two parts for use by two persons seatedat opposite ends of the table. At the corners of the table are thesupporting le s 12, and at the central portion of the table at the sidesthereof are the downwardly extending shelf supporting members 13 fixedto the table top. At the sides of the table below the top are thelongitudinal strips 14 which are set in slightly from the adjacent edgeof the table top.

Each of the extension shelves comprises two main side pieces 15connected by means of the cross slats 16. These side pieces 15 arepivotally connected to one of the adjacent legs 12 and the support 13 bymeans of a rod 17. At the free ends of the side pieces 15 are theextensions 18 which are of approximately half the thickness of the sidepieces proper. The parts are so arranged in proportion that when theside pieces 15 are in their folded positions, the said extensions 18will engage and rest against the adjacent strip 14 and the said upperends of the side pieces 15 will incline inwardly a slight distancetoward the longitudinal center of the table to thereby hold the shelf inits folded position by gravity.

Attached to the free ends of the side pieces 15 is a rod 19 havin ahandle 20 whereby it may be readily an easily grasped by an operator forthe purpose of moving the side pieces 15 to their extended ositions. Thesaid side ieces 15 also exten a considerable distance elow the pivotinrod 17, and I have provided means whereby the side pieces 15 will berigidly held in a horizontal position as follows: Secured to the leg 12and the support 13 are two blocks 21 in position to be engaged by thelower ends of the side pieces 15 when said side pieces are in ahorizontal position to thereby limit the downward movement of the outerends of said side pieces.

It is desirable that the extension shelf, when in position for use, willbe only a comparatively short distance below the table to hence in orderto provide a shelf of su cient width, it is necessary that this shelf ofitself be capable of folding so that it may be contained, when folded inthe space between its pivotal point, on the top of the table. For thispurpose I have provided two extension side pieces 22, each having itsinner end at 23 shaped to fit against the extension 18 and hinges 24which are rovided to connect the parts 23 with the si e pieces 15. Bythis arrangement it is obvious that the side pieces 22 will be supportednot only by the lnngcs 24 but by the extensions 18 so that when in ahorizontal position the side pieces 22 will be firmly held againstdownward movement at their outer ends. These side pieces are connectedby means of the cross slats 25 which are uniform in size and shape withthe cross slats 16. The said side pieces are of such a length that theoperator may first grasp the cross pieces 25 and fold the side pieces 22back over the slats 16 and then the side pieces 15 may be foldedupwardly so that the extensions 18 thereof will engage the strip 1 1.

In practical operation, it is obvious that my improvement may bereadily, quickly and easily applied to an ordinary writing table bysimply securing to it the rods 17 and the stop blocks 21. When theextension shelf is in its folded position, it is obvious that it doesnot project beyond the side of the table nor does it extend inwardlybeyond the legs of the table so that when in its folded position it willnot interfere or be in the road of the legs of the person using thetable. By having the shelf made of two parts, one of which folds overthe other, the pivotal point of the shelf may be quite close to the topof the table so that the articles placed thereon will be readilyaccessible to the person seated at the table. Obviously the device maybe extended for use by simply grasping the handle, 20 and pulling itoutwardly, and then unfolding the outer portion of the shelf to theposition shown at the left in Fig. 1, and the shelf may be folded up byfirst doubling the outer part of it over the inner part and thenswinging the inner part upwardly to position past a dead center wherethe extensions 18 will engage the side strip 1 1 of the table; hence, nolatches or other fastening devices are neces sary for supporting theextension shelf in either position, and no part of the shelf extendsdownwardly toward the floor where it might interfere with sweeping thefloor.

I claim as my invention 1. A device of the class described, comprising atable, an extension shelf comprising two arms pivotally supported belowthe table top and capable of swinging upwardly to a vertical positionbelow the table top, said arms each havingan extension at the positionoverlapping the first mentioned arms and of folding under the table top,and

means for limiting the downward movementof the first mentioned arms whenin their extended positions, for the purposes stated.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a table having a stripextending longitudinally thereof at one side below the table top andspaced apart from the edge of the table top, a supporting piece fixed tothe table top and extended downwardly at a point midway between the endsof the legs, two extension shelves, each comprising two arms, onepivoted to one of the legs of the table and the other pivoted to saidsupport, stop blocks secured to said leg in said support to be engagedby said arm to hold them in horizontal position, the outer ends of saidarms beingprovided with projecting portions so arranged as to engage theside strip of the table top when the said arms are swung upwardly pastadead center, two auxiliary arms having extensions at the inner ends ofthe aforesaid arms, hinges arranged at the ends of said extensions onthe auxiliary arms and connected to the first mentioned arms, crossslats connecting said auxiliary arms, and a rod connected to the firstmentioned arms, and provided with a handle, substantially as, and forthe purposes stated.

Des Moines, Iowa, Oct. 9, 1909.

JOHN F. BEBB.

l/Vitnesses:

E. F. BRIGGS, J. A. MILLs.

